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The Lost Lady of the Darkwoods
It’s been ten years since I ran away.
For ten years, I’ve been living in the human realm, trying to find somewhere to belong. I’ve carved out a life for myself with my foster family, and I’m happy. At least, as happy as I can be.
I’m half human and half Azanite. A shifter who can’t shift. An abomination who hates to fall asleep because her dreams are full of death and destruction, and potential prophecies. Frankly, I’m a mess.
I thought I escaped my old life. Until, my foster brother and I are attacked. Then everything spirals out of control.
They found me. Four powerful, intimidating and unbelievably gorgeous Drengar. The Drengar are scary shifter warriors from my birth lands. They’re on a mission to find a sacred text that was stolen from Azanir and I don’t know if I believed it when they told me they found me by accident. They thought I was dead. The lost Lady of the Darkwoods.
I was a fool to think that I could live in peace away from the demons that haunt our kind and from the laws of my people. I got ten years, I guess I have to be grateful for that. I sacrificed everything to save my foster brother, and for him, I’d give up my freedom and my life. Now, I’m stuck on a road trip with four Drengar who challe
For ten years, I’ve been living in the human realm, trying to find somewhere to belong. I’ve carved out a life for myself with my foster family, and I’m happy. At least, as happy as I can be.
I’m half human and half Azanite. A shifter who can’t shift. An abomination who hates to fall asleep because her dreams are full of death and destruction, and potential prophecies. Frankly, I’m a mess.
I thought I escaped my old life. Until, my foster brother and I are attacked. Then everything spirals out of control.
They found me. Four powerful, intimidating and unbelievably gorgeous Drengar. The Drengar are scary shifter warriors from my birth lands. They’re on a mission to find a sacred text that was stolen from Azanir and I don’t know if I believed it when they told me they found me by accident. They thought I was dead. The lost Lady of the Darkwoods.
I was a fool to think that I could live in peace away from the demons that haunt our kind and from the laws of my people. I got ten years, I guess I have to be grateful for that. I sacrificed everything to save my foster brother, and for him, I’d give up my freedom and my life. Now, I’m stuck on a road trip with four Drengar who challe
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2025
About the author
A L Rojo
9 books33 followersA L Rojo is an author, educator, wife and mother who lives in Sydney, Australia. From a young age, she understood the power of getting lost in a good book. After giving herself permission to explore her creativity, she found that she loved writing novels that focus on strong female characters, love, spice, and the wonderful complexities of life. Her goal is to simply create worlds where anyone can escape into, for however long they may need. She says that along this journey she has left behind a piece of herself in every character she creates.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 11, 2025
" The horrors of monsters and darkness, or that I was taken from a dream with a male who called to my soul."
A.L Rojo you have done it again.
A story that you are captivated by from page 1 to the last. Characters that you fall in love with and wish the book would never end and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I can't wait for book 2
A.L Rojo you have done it again.
A story that you are captivated by from page 1 to the last. Characters that you fall in love with and wish the book would never end and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I can't wait for book 2
July 11, 2025
I've been sitting on this finished book for a few days and I'm still thinking about it non-stop. I was fortunate enough to read this one ARC and I loved it so much. I'm a sucker for a good shifter story and while this is definitely a shifter story, it concentrates on what that means in terms of a "normal" life.
There's so much to unpack in The Lost Lady of the Darkwoods by A L Rojo. The FMC, Raff, has had a hard life and she has managed to find her family and where she belongs despite that. She has found skill, talent, and love in a hard world and that makes me want to be there for the next installment, and the next, and the next, etc.
There's laughter, there's tears, there's a little bit of romance (sweet romance, no chilli's), there's fighting, and there's fear. Definitely worth the read (if you don't mind ending on a cliffhanger).
There's also chicken nuggets. So many chicken nuggets.
The book is available to pre-order now! Release date is 15 Aug 25 (just over a month away!)
There's so much to unpack in The Lost Lady of the Darkwoods by A L Rojo. The FMC, Raff, has had a hard life and she has managed to find her family and where she belongs despite that. She has found skill, talent, and love in a hard world and that makes me want to be there for the next installment, and the next, and the next, etc.
There's laughter, there's tears, there's a little bit of romance (sweet romance, no chilli's), there's fighting, and there's fear. Definitely worth the read (if you don't mind ending on a cliffhanger).
There's also chicken nuggets. So many chicken nuggets.
The book is available to pre-order now! Release date is 15 Aug 25 (just over a month away!)
July 9, 2025
After waiting for what felt like forever, I finally got to read this book and it did not disappoint!! There were tears, and swooning and drooling and going back and forth on which MMC I loved more. This book builds beautiful found family relationships, characters you love and an adventure for the FMC of learning to trust again and begin their self discovery, all while wrapped up with yummy shifters saving the day 🤤
August 19, 2025
I was lucky enough to get to ARC read this book, so thank you to Alex for the opportunity.
The Lost Lady of the Darkwoods is book 1 in a new series Shifters of Azanir.
This was such a great entry into a new world and a fantastic 5 star read.
Tropes include:
Enemies to lovers
Found family
Fated mates
Touch her and die
Shifters
Raff (our FMC) left her magical world 10 years ago and escaped to the human realm.
In the human realm she made a family with adoptive siblings and mother.
Now she has been found by 4 protectors of her home realm (by accident).
From here Raff agrees to go back to her home realm, to keep her human family safe and help to find a book (the reason they were out of their realm to begin with). The story follows their treacherous journey to find this book.
If you love any of the things I’ve mentioned above, I highly recommend reading this series and coming on the journey with Raff.
The Lost Lady of the Darkwoods is book 1 in a new series Shifters of Azanir.
This was such a great entry into a new world and a fantastic 5 star read.
Tropes include:
Enemies to lovers
Found family
Fated mates
Touch her and die
Shifters
Raff (our FMC) left her magical world 10 years ago and escaped to the human realm.
In the human realm she made a family with adoptive siblings and mother.
Now she has been found by 4 protectors of her home realm (by accident).
From here Raff agrees to go back to her home realm, to keep her human family safe and help to find a book (the reason they were out of their realm to begin with). The story follows their treacherous journey to find this book.
If you love any of the things I’ve mentioned above, I highly recommend reading this series and coming on the journey with Raff.
July 30, 2026
Rating
5 💎
1 🌶️
Quick Summary
I was completely hooked by this story and flew through it in less than 24 hours! The mystery surrounding why Serafina ran away kept me invested, and her terrifying dreams added so much intrigue. My heart broke for everything she has endured, especially as she continually puts her found family before herself. The male characters were incredibly swoon-worthy, and I loved how protective they were of her. Alex did an amazing job building the relationships and trust between the characters. The twists and turns at the end were brilliantly written, and I never saw that ending coming. Eeeek, I desperately need book 2! 📚✨
While Reading Thoughts
📓I am loving the mystery behind why she ran away and the dreams she has are terrifying
📓These males were all so swoon worthy and the way they stepped up to protect Serafina
📓I was completely hooked in this story from start to finish and read it within 24hours
📓Serafina has been through it but the way she puts her found family before her own needs tore out my heart
📓The way Alex writes the building up of their relationships and the trust between them was done so well
📓The twist and turns towards the end of this book were written so well and I did not see the ending coming at all
📓eeeeek I desperately need to book 2
Words that linger
🍷If you were asleep all the time, I’d never get to kiss you again, and Astgeer, now that I’ve tasted you, I fear that I’m addicted to your flavour. You have turned me into an addict and I never, ever want to live a day not in your presence.
🍷My heart keeps a bit of the realisation that he almost died. That the world was so close to losing a man that made the sun shine brighter. That made the days easier to wake up to. That made the hard times and the memories soften.
🍷 One day you will tell me what happened to you, Serafina DarkwoodsAzar. And I promise to all the Sun Gods, when I find out who hurt you, I’ll burn them with a fire they have never felt or seen before.
🍷I have you now, he says to me. You’re safe.
Tropes
⚔️Dragon shifters
⚔️Fated mates
⚔️Found family
⚔️Hidden identity
⚔️Outcast
Nicknames
Raff
Astgeer (My beloved)
5 💎
1 🌶️
Quick Summary
I was completely hooked by this story and flew through it in less than 24 hours! The mystery surrounding why Serafina ran away kept me invested, and her terrifying dreams added so much intrigue. My heart broke for everything she has endured, especially as she continually puts her found family before herself. The male characters were incredibly swoon-worthy, and I loved how protective they were of her. Alex did an amazing job building the relationships and trust between the characters. The twists and turns at the end were brilliantly written, and I never saw that ending coming. Eeeek, I desperately need book 2! 📚✨
While Reading Thoughts
📓I am loving the mystery behind why she ran away and the dreams she has are terrifying
📓These males were all so swoon worthy and the way they stepped up to protect Serafina
📓I was completely hooked in this story from start to finish and read it within 24hours
📓Serafina has been through it but the way she puts her found family before her own needs tore out my heart
📓The way Alex writes the building up of their relationships and the trust between them was done so well
📓The twist and turns towards the end of this book were written so well and I did not see the ending coming at all
📓eeeeek I desperately need to book 2
Words that linger
🍷If you were asleep all the time, I’d never get to kiss you again, and Astgeer, now that I’ve tasted you, I fear that I’m addicted to your flavour. You have turned me into an addict and I never, ever want to live a day not in your presence.
🍷My heart keeps a bit of the realisation that he almost died. That the world was so close to losing a man that made the sun shine brighter. That made the days easier to wake up to. That made the hard times and the memories soften.
🍷 One day you will tell me what happened to you, Serafina DarkwoodsAzar. And I promise to all the Sun Gods, when I find out who hurt you, I’ll burn them with a fire they have never felt or seen before.
🍷I have you now, he says to me. You’re safe.
Tropes
⚔️Dragon shifters
⚔️Fated mates
⚔️Found family
⚔️Hidden identity
⚔️Outcast
Nicknames
Raff
Astgeer (My beloved)
August 1, 2025
There is something incredible about the way AL Rojo writes. The way the characters come alive around you, how your heart and mind are immediately invested in the story and what is about to happen, and her new story The Lost Lady of the Darkwoods is no exception.
From the very first chapter I was drawn completely into Raff's plight, a tourtured young girl on the run, trying to find a safe space for herself somewhere in the world, all under unbelievably horrific circumstances. But she finds it, carving out a life, simplistic, but hers.
But then her past catches up with her and suddenly 4 impossibly large men from her birth world...Drengar, have found her and are not going to let her escape that easily. And as Raff's beast finally awakens around them (and one in particular) maybe, just maybe, escape isn't the first thing on her mind anymore.
What follows is an unlikely roadtrip, a quest to find an artefact while deadly creatures (and humans) attack from every angle, soul searching realisations and secrets long buried, and a bond that could unravel her very world.
Once again, Alex has a gift when it comes to story telling, you actually care deeply for every character (well, almost every) that tears, heart swells, shock and happiness are just a few emotions you'll experience while reading.
If you enjoy:
- enemies to lovers
- touch her and die
- fated mates
- found family
- protective MMCs
- soft for her MMC
- incredible world building
- hurt/comfort
- bonds
- chicken nuggets
Then please - don't hesitate at all to fall into this new world - it's phenomenal. I was lucky to arc read this one!
From the very first chapter I was drawn completely into Raff's plight, a tourtured young girl on the run, trying to find a safe space for herself somewhere in the world, all under unbelievably horrific circumstances. But she finds it, carving out a life, simplistic, but hers.
But then her past catches up with her and suddenly 4 impossibly large men from her birth world...Drengar, have found her and are not going to let her escape that easily. And as Raff's beast finally awakens around them (and one in particular) maybe, just maybe, escape isn't the first thing on her mind anymore.
What follows is an unlikely roadtrip, a quest to find an artefact while deadly creatures (and humans) attack from every angle, soul searching realisations and secrets long buried, and a bond that could unravel her very world.
Once again, Alex has a gift when it comes to story telling, you actually care deeply for every character (well, almost every) that tears, heart swells, shock and happiness are just a few emotions you'll experience while reading.
If you enjoy:
- enemies to lovers
- touch her and die
- fated mates
- found family
- protective MMCs
- soft for her MMC
- incredible world building
- hurt/comfort
- bonds
- chicken nuggets
Then please - don't hesitate at all to fall into this new world - it's phenomenal. I was lucky to arc read this one!
May 4, 2026
The Lost Lady of the Darkwoods is a gripping shifter story that drew me in from the very beginning and kept me fully engaged.
Raff’s connection to her foster family really landed for me. Even with their differences, there’s a sense of care and belonging that feels genuine. I found myself quickly attached to them, so when everything shifts, I felt that impact alongside Raff. The emotional moments, especially around grief and protection, felt raw and real.
When the Drengar arrive, the tone of the story changes in a way that kept me curious and invested. A. L. Rojo’s descriptive writing made it easy to picture everything so vividly, I genuinely felt like I could step into that world. What stood out most for me was the way the Drengar engage with Raff, there’s a strong thread of respect for her autonomy, even when there’s tension or disagreement, which I really appreciated.
Raff’s choices carry real weight. The push and pull between loyalty, survival, and identity is something I could feel throughout the story. Her journey of self-discovery unfolds alongside the action, giving space for both internal reflection and external stakes.
The pacing felt balanced, with action, quieter travel moments, humour, and emotional beats all woven together in a way that kept me engaged. I found myself moving between excitement, softness, and those swoony moments, all while a deeper layer of the story slowly revealed itself.
This is a story I genuinely enjoyed from start to finish, and I’d recommend it to fantasy readers who enjoy character-driven journeys alongside adventure.
Raff’s connection to her foster family really landed for me. Even with their differences, there’s a sense of care and belonging that feels genuine. I found myself quickly attached to them, so when everything shifts, I felt that impact alongside Raff. The emotional moments, especially around grief and protection, felt raw and real.
When the Drengar arrive, the tone of the story changes in a way that kept me curious and invested. A. L. Rojo’s descriptive writing made it easy to picture everything so vividly, I genuinely felt like I could step into that world. What stood out most for me was the way the Drengar engage with Raff, there’s a strong thread of respect for her autonomy, even when there’s tension or disagreement, which I really appreciated.
Raff’s choices carry real weight. The push and pull between loyalty, survival, and identity is something I could feel throughout the story. Her journey of self-discovery unfolds alongside the action, giving space for both internal reflection and external stakes.
The pacing felt balanced, with action, quieter travel moments, humour, and emotional beats all woven together in a way that kept me engaged. I found myself moving between excitement, softness, and those swoony moments, all while a deeper layer of the story slowly revealed itself.
This is a story I genuinely enjoyed from start to finish, and I’d recommend it to fantasy readers who enjoy character-driven journeys alongside adventure.
July 16, 2025
A.L. Rojo has done it again with another heart-stealing shifter tale!
Her writing is effortlessly captivating—before I knew it, I had devoured the entire book in one sitting. It felt like I had only just opened it, and suddenly I was at the end, already craving more.
This series is pure magic, packed with everything I love:
🖤 Found family
💫 Fated mates
🐉 Shifters (with a fresh twist!)
🎭 Hidden identities
The world-building is rich, the pacing addictive, and the emotional pull is undeniable. I’m already counting down the days until book two releases—I need it now!
Huge thanks for the chance to read this beauty early. It’s a story that will stick with me, and I can’t wait to see where the journey goes next.
Her writing is effortlessly captivating—before I knew it, I had devoured the entire book in one sitting. It felt like I had only just opened it, and suddenly I was at the end, already craving more.
This series is pure magic, packed with everything I love:
🖤 Found family
💫 Fated mates
🐉 Shifters (with a fresh twist!)
🎭 Hidden identities
The world-building is rich, the pacing addictive, and the emotional pull is undeniable. I’m already counting down the days until book two releases—I need it now!
Huge thanks for the chance to read this beauty early. It’s a story that will stick with me, and I can’t wait to see where the journey goes next.
July 26, 2025
What a fantastic book!
A.L Rojo really outdid herself with this one. Love, loss, found family and sexual tension that will have you screaming.
The MFC is written with such care and really is true to herself. She never wavers, and her trauma is not just forgotten after a few minutes. it stays with us through the story, and we see as she slowly heals from it.
I loved the found family vibe as well. There was a lot of drama and darkness and I am here for it all.
I want more and I want it now!
A.L Rojo really outdid herself with this one. Love, loss, found family and sexual tension that will have you screaming.
The MFC is written with such care and really is true to herself. She never wavers, and her trauma is not just forgotten after a few minutes. it stays with us through the story, and we see as she slowly heals from it.
I loved the found family vibe as well. There was a lot of drama and darkness and I am here for it all.
I want more and I want it now!
July 12, 2025
OMFG words cannot described how obsessed I am with this book. I loved A.L Rojo writing since her debut novel but this is AMAZING. Raff is a feisty FMC trying to find her way in the world after a troubling beginning. Enter the four hunky men that 'I volunteer as tribute' haha.
This book kept me turning the pages with intrigue, muscles and a plot I didn't know where it was going. But more than anything, the ending...absolute jaw dropping. I NEED BOOK 2!!
This book kept me turning the pages with intrigue, muscles and a plot I didn't know where it was going. But more than anything, the ending...absolute jaw dropping. I NEED BOOK 2!!
July 9, 2025
I was so excited to start this story. I mean who wouldn't be keen for a book full of drop dead gorgeous shifters, intrigue, and an FMC that is running from her past? A.L Rojo delivered and then some. This book was fast paced enough to keep me hooked but also full of little twists and turns that had me needing the answers stat! I honestly can't wait for book two.
February 26, 2026
New and Exciting
Firstly I want to say this book was so refreshing, as someone who primarily reads fantasy storylines tend to get very similar from time to time. This is definitely something different which I love!
A slow burn with an excellent set up for the next book and I can't wait to see what happens.
Firstly I want to say this book was so refreshing, as someone who primarily reads fantasy storylines tend to get very similar from time to time. This is definitely something different which I love!
A slow burn with an excellent set up for the next book and I can't wait to see what happens.
December 30, 2025
A brilliant novel!
Could not put this down. Loved the twists and turns and the push and pull of self discovery. I want to read book 2 so badly
Could not put this down. Loved the twists and turns and the push and pull of self discovery. I want to read book 2 so badly
December 30, 2025
Loved everything about this story. I cannot wait for the next instalment.
February 26, 2026
Book review
Loved this from start to end. Filled with such adventure and some really funny moments! Really enjoyed this book and can not wait for book 2!!
Loved this from start to end. Filled with such adventure and some really funny moments! Really enjoyed this book and can not wait for book 2!!
April 5, 2026
So this surprised me. I really enjoyed this book. I really didn’t want to put it down and read it in a day. I can’t wait to see where Serafina’s road to self discovery takes her. Well done A. L Rojo
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews